From Freelance Beginnings to Thriving Digital Agency: The Story of GoldBear Media
“How’d you get started?” is a question we frequently get asked. Today we (Shawn) want to tell you the story behind GoldBear Media. Join us as we share our journey from “side hustle” beginnings to becoming a trusted digital agency.
In February of 2020, just before the world was turned upside down by the pandemic, Kelly made a decision that changed the course of our lives. Seeking to supplement our family budget, she started taking on freelance clients. Our previous year, 2019, was marked by immense financial and health challenges. I had undergone emergency back surgery to remove a life-threatening abscess in my spine. It had not only become a systemic infection, it also caused me to be temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. The surgery came with no guarantees and walking again was uncertain.
Following a year of recovery and an additional surgery for a hip replacement, I was finally back on my feet and working as the GM for a national retail chain. Kelly began looking for extra freelance work to alleviate the pressure from the medical bills that had accumulated from the previous year. In her words, "If I can just design some business cards or flyers to earn some extra money, it'll make a difference."
Neither of us could have predicted what would happen next. As we all know, in March of 2020, the world shut down, and a remarkable shift occurred. Suddenly, the demand for digital marketing services skyrocketed. What began as a simple intention of doing some graphics work for extra income quickly transformed into the realization that we had the opportunity to build something bigger to fill a need in the market.
In August of 2022, after a successful battle with breast cancer (we’ll save that story for another post) Kelly took a leap of faith and made GoldBear Media her full-time pursuit after three years of nurturing it as a side hustle. The business experienced rapid expansion, leading to another significant milestone. In October 2022, I joined full-time, enabling us to manage the growing workload, help build out our client SEO strategies, organize operations, and further develop our growing business.
Since our inception, we have steadily grown, serving clients across the United States with social media engagement and management, website development, SEO, and more. Our dedication to delivering exceptional results has allowed us to forge lasting partnerships with businesses throughout Baltimore and beyond. Although Westminster, Maryland is where we call home, we've had the privilege of working with clients in locations such as New York, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Austin, and Southern California.
Above all, the most rewarding aspect of running GoldBear Media together has been the opportunity to build a business together while connecting with countless small business owners and hearing their stories. We get really excited about building relationships with these remarkable individuals, and it’s a source of daily inspiration for us.
If you've been considering working with us, we hope this glimpse into our journey has provided valuable insight into the unwavering dedication we bring to our clients. At GoldBear Media, we understand the transformative power of digital marketing and the profound impact it can have on businesses, big and small. Our passion for delivering exceptional results, coupled with our commitment to building lasting relationships, truly sets us apart.
As we continue to forge new paths and seize exciting opportunities, we invite you to join us on this remarkable journey. Together, let's create digital strategies that propel your business to new heights. Get in touch with us today and discover the GoldBear Media difference.